鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui),是現存最(zui)古老的(de)爬行動(dong)物(wu),世(shi)界(jie)最(zui)大(da)(da)的(de)淡(dan)水龜(gui)(gui)(gui)之(zhi)一、有淡(dan)水動(dong)物(wu)王者(zhe)之(zhi)稱(cheng),分(fen)為兩大(da)(da)種(zhong)類,俗稱(cheng)大(da)(da)鱷(e)(e)與(yu)小(xiao)鱷(e)(e)。大(da)(da)鱷(e)(e)又(you)名(ming)真鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui),小(xiao)鱷(e)(e)又(you)名(ming)擬(ni)鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui),擬(ni)鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui)三個(ge)亞(ya)種(zhong),分(fen)別是北(bei)美擬(ni)鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui)、南(nan)美擬(ni)鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui)、中美擬(ni)鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui)。鱷(e)(e)龜(gui)(gui)(gui)因(yin)體型大(da)(da)且攻(gong)擊性強(qiang),曾(ceng)由于(yu)人類的(de)獵殺失去棲息地,被世(shi)界(jie)自然(ran)保護聯(lian)盟列成(cheng)易危物(wu)種(zhong)。
鱷(e)龜長(chang)相酷(ku)似鱷(e)魚(yu),集龜和鱷(e)魚(yu)于(yu)(yu)一(yi)體,故稱鱷(e)龜。其頭部較粗大,不(bu)能完全縮入(ru)殼內,脖短而粗壯,領背長(chang)有(you)(you)褐(he)色肉刺,眼細(xi)小,嘴巴上(shang)(shang)下頜較小,吻尖,尾(wei)巴尖而長(chang),兩(liang)邊(bian)具棱,棱上(shang)(shang)長(chang)有(you)(you)肉突(tu)刺,尾(wei)背前邊(bian)三(san)分之(zhi)二(er)處有(you)(you)一(yi)條鱗皮狀(zhuang)(zhuang)(zhuang)隆(long)起棱背,并(bing)呈鋸齒口(kou)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)(zhuang),背殼很(hen)薄(bo),上(shang)(shang)皮以棕(zong)褐(he)色為主,偶爾棕(zong)黃色,背部具有(you)(you)三(san)條模糊(hu)棱,并(bing)有(you)(you)放射狀(zhuang)(zhuang)(zhuang)斑紋,后緣呈齒狀(zhuang)(zhuang)(zhuang),腹部白色,偶有(you)(you)小黑斑點(dian),幼(you)時黑色,四肢(zhi)粗壯,肌肉發達(da),爪(zhua)子尖而有(you)(you)力,善于(yu)(yu)爬行。